I have a feeling this spring is going to be hectic (not that I haven’t lived through a hectic spring schedule before). My daughter is doing track, cheer tryouts, and gymnastics practice. My son is running track and playing baseball. Most nights, their complex schedules overlap, so that between the two of them, they can have up to 3 or more events scheduled. Sometimes it takes three adults (me, my mom, and my husband) to get them where they need to be on time– or close to it anyway.
My daughter has become an expert at packing multiple outfits to get through a school day. Right now, she packs track and gymnastics clothes; last fall it was cheer and gymnastics. My mom brings her a snack so she can eat it while en route to the next event. Most weekdays, my daughter lives on a diet of bottled water, Rice Krispies Treats, peanut butter crackers, popcorn, 100 Calorie snacks, and fruit such as strawberries or grapes. Doesn’t sound like the ideal diet for a growing teenage girl, does it? Actually, she eats well for her other meals, so the snacks are just that– snacks. They have to be portable, quick, and easy to eat with braces.
My son has all the time in the world and still can’t seem to pack his baseball bag before going to practice. Half the time he can’t remember where he left the bag. The only thing he puts in the same place every day are his cleats– they’re right outside the step in the garage, where I invariably trip over them. He’s also a little tougher to feed, since he has always been a picky eater. He prefers to sneak snacks and use them to take the edge off his hunger, so he can bypass dinner if he plays his cards right. He’s also not on the go nearly as much as his sister, so he isn’t forced to eat convenient snacks or participate in an activity while hungry. Unlike his sister, he’s the one who is growing, so he presents a special nutritional challenge. If only I could disguise meat and green vegetables as PopTarts.
